Ever thought of attending a conference at a music festival?
North by NorthEast did, and from the 17th to the 21st of June, 2015 – across multiple venues in Toronto & Ontario, is one of Canada’s biggest music, film, comedy, and arts festivals!
With a wide array of events taking place this year at NXNE, with features by Glass Animals, Willow Smith, Pentagram, The New Pornographers and Ty Dolla $ign (to name a few) throughout the festival, there’s a film festival, a comics + art fair, and a whole lot more! Here’s why you should be at Canada’s North by NorthEast 2015:
1. The Conference: North by NorthEast Interactive (NXNEi)
Image Courtesy: NXNE Facebook
This might sound just a tad bit boring, but we assure you – there’s nothing boring about a conference featuring the best in technology, art, and business. At the NXNE Interactive, you will get the chance to attend workshops, presentations, seminars, and much more which focus on bringing together the “interactive world and the creative world” onto one stage at the “digital interactive media conference like no other“, to showcase the biggest, hottest innovations along with the people responsible for them.
2. They Give Out Free Pizza
Though the line-up is still unrealeased, The Music Ontario Day Party assures every goer free pizza and cupcakes throughout the day! Music Ontario, being a not-for-profit organisation, is featuring local talent and emerging entrepreneurs at the NXNE Day Party!
Image Courtesy: Music Ontario
3. To Amp Up Your Karaoke Skills
Image Courtesy: Tim McCready ~ WordPress
Sometimes, you just feel like singing along – and we, at The Sherp understand. Over at NXNE’15, you can get the chance to showcase your skills and musical talent at the Good Enough Live Karaoke section at the Yonge-Dundas Stage! So while Willow Smith whips her hair back and forth, karaoke enthusiasts are set to come together and sing to their heart’s content!
4. To Watch A Film!
North by Northeast is not your average music festival, at NXNE’15 – the NXNE Film franchise of the festival is sure to blow your mind- film enthusiast or not. Every year, at the Festival, various short films and documentaries focusing mainly on music and culture; by individuals from across the globe are screened at the venues of the festival!
Catch “Amy”, Asif Kapadia’s heartwarming documentary dedicated to Amy Winehouse, and ‘Industrial Soundtrack for the Urban Decay”, a documentary that traces the rise of industrial music, as well as its sojourns through ‘crumbling European cities to America’s avant garde‘ – and many more! Find the schedule, here.
5. Because, They Have Stand-Up!
Image Courtesy: NXNE Facebook
At the NXNE Hub, there’s loads of things going on, one of which is the NXNE Comedy stream, with artists like Eric Andre (of the Eric Andre Show, 2 Broke Girls), and Nick Thune providing you the ability to actually L-O-L. Take a break, get a drink, and head on over to their shows
6. So You Can Get Artsy!
Featuring poster-art, installations, wall-painting archives, and much more – the NXNE Art showcase brings to you some of the best artwork by local artists that is sure to be a wonderful sight. With hand printed poster art, free-hand wall paints, curations of multiple pieces at exhibitions – from the looks of it, this art sure is going to be funky. Take a look at some of the art from previous years below;
(^All Images Courtesy – NXNE Facebook)
In addition to exhibits, the comics + art fair at NXNE’15, again, with free pizza – is here to bring you the best poster art, live music, and comic print from Toronto!
Image Courtesy: NXNE Facebook
7. Finally, To Enter FREE Music Shows At The Yonge-Dundas Square
The Yonge-Dundas Square is THE place you want to be at, during North by NorthEast. Why? – You ask. Well, The Sherp hears that concerts at the Square are free to attend, and there’s loads of other fun events taking place; when there aren’t any musical performances. Like the Outdoor Yoga event – where you can take that much-needed break, and retreat into the realms of relaxation and flexible pleasure, and (if you’ve been paying attention) – The Good Enough Live Karaoke too! Check out what’s happening at the Square, right here!
Image Courtesy: BrooklynVegan // NXNE
Need more convincing? Visit their webpage!